Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
May 4, 2011
Cons:
dry skin (extremely)
cracked dry lips
dry eyes(bloodshot)
dry nose
depression
very achy and tired
Very expensive without insurance
If you have 'bad" skin then you will do anything. I didnt care about the side effect before the treatment and still dont. For the first time in my life I get compliments on my skin. It took about a month to start seeing results. Its soooooo worth it. You have to be mentally prepare for it though. If you know that something may depress you, then you just dont react to it. I knew when it was the medication effecting me and had family members constantly keeping me in check. I took it for 5 months. Sooooooo worth it.
April 30, 2011
Pros:
MAY clear up acne
Cons:
lots and lots
I must say that I've actually never used accutane but I wanted to write this as a warning to anyone wanting to try it. About 7 years ago my older brother used it and had severe depression that was difficult to treat - he failed most of his tests his senior year and ended up not graduating with his friends and having to go back to school once he was finally better. Then about 2 years ago my best friend decided that she had enough acne and it would be worth having clear skin no matter the side effects. Her skin did clear up a bit but not completely and her hormones were so messed up that she had to be on hormone treatments for almost a year. Now, a year later she is having trouble getting pregnant and her dr says the accutane may have messed up her hormones to get pregnant for the next few years, perhaps even never get pregnant. I know having bad skin sucks! I have bad skin but I would never take this drug knowing that it can cause such extreme side effects and harm your body. This is not a case of other meds where if your stomach hurts, or whatever, you stop taking it and go back to normal in a few days. This stuff can really mess you up. Even if it does clear up your skin (which it doesn't always) it can mess up your body so bad you'll wish you hadn't taken it.
April 29, 2011
Pros:
cleared acne, face has never been so smooth and clear! took a good 4.5 months. my acne pretty bad and this product was a life saver!
Cons:
dry skin
dry eyes(bloodshot)
dry nose
fatigue
great depression
very achy and tired
this product was amazing. it really worked. I would not recommened this product if your acne isnt that severe. The side affects are very serious and there is no need to take this is not needed. Try everything else first, but if you have to take it be strong! have a good mental thought process all the way through. Hope this helped
April 28, 2011
Pros:
Accutane cleared up my skin within a month and a half.
Cons:
The usual minor side effects. Dry lips, dry eyes, slightly dry skin. Nothing too unbearable.
I am a 25 year old acne sufferer, and after trying out every topical cream, face wash and medication for acne with continuous failures, I decided to use Accutane. I was afraid to, because of all the negative hype about the drug. It was definitely my last resort. I am so glad that I went on it. I didn't have any major side effects, I did not have an initial break out, and my skin began clearing up within a month of taking the pill. I was on it for 7 months on 60 MG, and now, 3 months after Accutane, my skin is still glowing and beautiful with a few tiny pimples here and there (Mostly monthly/hormonal pimples that clear up the next day) But nothing even noticeable. Other benefits of the drug are that my pores shrunk drastically, my skin is so much smoother than its ever been, and the scars have pretty much disappeared. I can walk outside without an ounce of make up on and I feel BEAUTIFUL!!! I hope my skin continues to stay this way, and I recommend Accutane for anyone who has tried it all and wants to give up. Best wishes to all on your journey to getting healthier skin!
April 24, 2011
Pros:
No more oily face, no more pimples on face or back, more confidence, spend less time getting ready
Cons:
Dry face & lips
I would recommend this drug for anyone who has severe acne. I've had acne for 10 years and I contemplated going on this drug for years because of of the side effects. I'm so glad I did & it was probably the best decision I could have ever made. Noone should have to suffer with acne that makes you not want to leave your house. I had no side effecs except for dry lips and skin which is no big deal at all. If you're suffering with this problem I would definitely try accutane it worked for me when nothing else would and I finally have my life back.
April 22, 2011
Pros:
Considerable difference in greasiness of skin - not greasy at all
Very few side effects (only dry lips)
Only have to take for four months
Cons:
Extremely dry lips
I've been taking Roaccutane for two months now, and I've got two months left of treatment, and my skin is in much, much better condition, it's softer and better quality and not at all greasy. I'd already tried most topical things along with Oxytetracycline, Lymecycline and Doxycycline, and none of those worked, so I was relieved to be going onto something stronger. The only side effect I've had is dry lips, but that can be solved with vaseline and lip salve. I had a dry scalp for a while, but I switched to E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo and that's all fixed now.
April 18, 2011
Pros:
Skin like a baby’s bottom!
Not afraid to show off my back in public
Cons:
All the temporary stuff commonly listed: dry skin and lips, mega dry eye, depression, poor healing etc.
Telogen Effluvium - lost 70% of my hair, and counting
Tendinitis, still troubling me
8 months after taking my last pill it's hard to say whether it was worth the risk. 25 year old male with a pizza back sucked. I'd had enough of slathering handfuls of BP and AHA over my back and neck, face (with minimal improvement) so I did some research to see what I could do to put acne to rest from the inside out.
First it was vitamins - no luck. Then Doxy, which failed. My problem was OIL, way too much of it. Accutane was the only option (or B5).
I was prescribed 60mg a day then worked up to 100mg over two months or so. This was a little past the recommended dose 0.5 ' 1 mg / per kg body weight being 95kg. My thinking was I never wanted to do this again so let's get it right first time around. I reached a cumulative dosage of 150mg in just over 5 months to say bye acne for good. And it worked' I'd never been so happy in my life with my skin.
But then it came. 2 weeks after my last pill I was washing my hair in the shower and there in my hands was over 50 hairs. I totally broke down knowing what it was: telogen effluvium. Since then I've lost 200 ' 300 hairs a day for 8 months. It happens due to a physical stress on the body which causes your hair to prematurely enter a resting state (generally from between 8 months' 2 years with accutane). The hair doesn't fall out for 2 -4 months after the stress event so you probably won't know until it's too late.
I suspect my telogen effluvium was due to my high dosage. My advice would be not to take any more than 1mg p/kg of your total body weight a day. If I could do it all over again I'd take less each day for a longer period of time to reach the recommended cumulative dosage of 120 ' 150.
Wish I could post a more positive review, but this is my story and it's real. Everyone is different will react differently. I give Accutane 5 stars for acne because I'm pretty much cured (so far), but I will never get all my hair back. It's a risk that didn't pay off for me.
April 17, 2011
Pros:
Cleared up my skin
Cons:
Harsh on my body
I had tried most everything and this was the last thing my doctor had for me to try. My initial blood test came back great, the one after the first month did also, but after the second month my liver enzymes had gone out the roof! Fortunately, though, they have gone down since I quit taking it. I know it works great for some people, but it is not for everyone.
April 16, 2011
Pros:
mainly clear skin
Cons:
SEVERE and major depression which has remained for the 10 years since I took roaccutane
have to remain on the *pill*-Diane/Juliette to keep my skin clear after course of roaccutane
Yes, my skin is mainly clear now but my life has been ruined by the depression caused by taking roaccutane. I also developed anorexia nervosa and can no longer work as a physiotherapist. Be VERY careful with this drug, that's all I can say...
April 14, 2011
Pros:
Skin is completely clear.
No eruptions in the morning or during the day
No whiteheads or nodules.
Skin doesn't hurt (acne spots are very painful)
Doesn't take long getting ready (used to have to pop spots, wait for the redness to go, or blood)
GOT MY LIFE BACK.
Cons:
Lips get so chapped.
Dry skin on face and arms.
Got several mini rashes on my arms.
Not able to drink.
More pain after exercising.
Bottom line if you have severe acne get on this drug now. For you Americans, the national health system is extremely poor and I was only prescribed this after going private (which is a very good service). I've been on it for three months now and it has completely cleared up all my acne. All that remains is a few blemishes and slight redness however since I'm only actually half way through my treatment, I expect this too reduce even further. The benefits much outweigh the drawbacks. It will change your life and your confidence will severely increase. Still got three months left on the drug but I'm only on 30mg. However kept a diary and monthly photos of how my acne is progressing and feel free to email me too get these, you'll really see the improvement, jase_2394@[link removed].
It will change your life.
Pros:
CLEAR SKIN!!!!!!!!!
I cant say it enough times